Option one: seize the rare chance to watch the world’s biggest bike race on home soil

Let’s face it, opportunities like this do not come around too often.

It is seven years since the Tour de France was last in Britain, when London hosted the 2007 Grand Depart, and only the fourth time in the race’s 101-year history it has travelled to these isles.

Furthermore, it has never before been as far north as Yorkshire and with a host of countries wanting a slice of cycling’s greatest prize – Utrecht will host the 2015 Grand Depart, for example – it may be some time before it ever does again.

With a flat finish in Harrogate – home town of Mark Cavendish’s mother –  stage one is set for the Manx Missile to sprint into the yellow jersey in front of his home crowd.

Climbing the Alpe is one thing, or even descending in the Dolomites, but is either worth sacrificing the chance to watch Cav pull on the only significant jersey missing from his collection? 

Remember the roar when Bradley Wiggins raced to time trial gold at the London Olympic Games? Expect something similar if Cavendish was to wear the coveted jersey on home soil.

And the second stage, an undulating stage from York to Sheffield, could account for the ambitions of some GC contenders as early as day two.

There will undoubtedly be drama as the leading candidates to wear the maillot jaune into Paris look to score some early victories against their rivals.

All in our home country, on the picturesque roads of Yorkshire.